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Dog Fighting Case Update: Two Defendants Sentenced

On March 24, the ASPCA assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement agencies in a federal dog fighting raid that resulted in the seizure of nearly 100 dogs from multiple properties in Missouri, Kansas and Texas.

Yesterday, at a federal court in Kansas, justice was served. Two individuals connected with last March’s raid learned that they would serve time in prison, pay large fines and perform community service for their roles in the illegal enterprise.

Pete Davis Jr., 38, was sentenced to 16 months in prison and Melvin Robinson, 42, was sentenced to 10 months after pleading guilty to charges related to dog fighting. Davis and Robinson were also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and pay $430,919 to the ASPCA for the care of the dogs seized. Both Davis and Robinson are also banned from owning dogs for three years following their sentences.

“The ASPCA is proud to have helped secure justice for the dogs involved in this case,” says Tim Rickey, Vice President of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “Thanks to the persistence of the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol, these individuals are finally answering for the suffering they caused these dogs. Dog fighting is a horrific crime, and we encourage the public to continue to report suspected dog fighting activities to local authorities.”

The problem is our legal system ... these two will be on the streets in no time doing the same horrible things again and again because they literally got a slap on the wrist. Totally disgusting! Perhaps if the judges were held accountable for these crimes, they wouldn't be so lenient.

I totally agree. This involved the FBI because of the RICO act and also subject to the state animals cruelty laws. The Federal felony judicial jurisdiction has never documented long term sentences for federal crimes. It usually involves large fines and community hours. Federal sentences use to be called "Real time sentences" you served the complete sentencing term. But I have noticed this cis no longer the fact. Federal conviction sentencing is now prorated for alleged good time or probation agreements. We the people, for the protection of animals and all federal convictions, can and should legally pursue changing these current weak Federal criminal crimes laws through our individual state and federal courts, nationally, by Congress through supporting legal defense animal recue groups; ASAP, HSUS, PETA etc. This is the final supporting defense/change of avenue we have.

.. listen, the idea is this.. what we want to do to them in the legal community is at least get a collar around their neck and then on a leash. (pun) IF we can't get a heavy sentence, we can do the next best thing.. We all know that America has a terrible history with treatment of animals.. its next to the Chinese actually. BUT America is also a very predjudice place.. the idea is that the offenders will NEVER be free of public scrutiny.. what kind of a job will they get when they get out of prison? Will they ever be able to 'grow up' and get a real job... to feed their family? NO.. and that's the whole idea. :-) They are basically strapped and prevented from ever getting a real life.. got it? They will most likely be forced to commit some other felony to maintain subsistence.. then they are finished... As long as we can get any kind of a felony on that record we are good.

CRUEL,SADISTIC,poor kind of human beings should never be allowed to ever own another as you know they will do this undetcover again I'm glad they at least didn't just get a slap on the hand and at least got punishment for the inhuman things they have put those poor dogs through I know that the best punishment should be putting them in a fighting ring and letting all those dogs have at them and get their revenge I'm a classicist but animal cruelty elderly cruelty and child abuse need severe punishment,for what of those dogs are they even adoptable I hope maybe some are pit bull are not mean it's the people and these rings that make them that way.Thank God for some justice for those dogs and millions more.

CRUEL,SADISTIC,poor kind of human beings should never be allowed to ever own another as you know they will do this undetcover again I'm glad they at least didn't just get a slap on the hand and at least got punishment for the inhuman things they have put those poor dogs through I know that the best punishment should be putting them in a fighting ring and letting all those dogs have at them and get their revenge I'm a classicist but animal cruelty elderly cruelty and child abuse need severe punishment,for what of those dogs are they even adoptable I hope maybe some are pit bull are not mean it's the people and these rings that make them that way.Thank God for some justice for those dogs and millions more.

These monsters should be in prison for a long long time and should never have another animal ever. These dogs suffered terribly. They sure would go to jail for life if they did this to a Human. What is the difference. They are the most innocent than humans and the law needs to be a lot more stiffer than just a slap on the wrist. I hate animal cruelty. Stop these monsters forever.

As far as I'm concerned an eye for an eye, the only way people will stop horrific crimes such as this is if they have what they have done to God's creatures done in return to them. If they survive the torture then consider then sitting in jail wasting our tax money . Otherwise karma. To do such horrific crimes to creatures that God put on this earth to be loyal companions to man himself is the devils work. Throw them into a ring and let them be torn to pieces....

The sentences of only 10 & 16 months are a joke. The fine that they will probably not pay back hopefully will result in more jail time . But judges need to hand down much more severe sentences. When you think of the horror inflicted on hundreds of dogs tortured, starved and left to die much more time locked up would still not be enough. And as everyone else has noted - anyone involved in this case should NEVER be permitted to own a goldfish - 3 yrs and they'll be back to their evilness.